Cheap Mangwon bar in Seoul: ₩4,000 draft beer and nachos, Macho Nacho

Macho Nacho, where I've gotten a bit friendly with the owner by now. It's great for takeout on your way to the Han River, or for a light but genuinely delicious second-round beer stop. The food and draft beer are such good value that I've lost count of how many times I've been.

Where is Macho Nacho, and what are its hours?

Macho Nacho sits at 128 Huiujeong-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the way to the Mangwon retention pond and the entrance to the Han River park. It's a perfect stop these days for weekend Han River dates or picnic weather. This is actually a spot I'd secretly had my eye on back when I dreamed of running a shop in Mangwon-dong haha.

• Mon, Wed, Thu 17:00 – 01:00
• Fri, Sat, Sun 13:00 – 01:00
• Last order 00:30
• Closed every Tuesday
• Parking: use the nearby public parking lot

A tiny bar with only three tables

Simple but full of character, that's Macho Nacho. In daylight the shop doesn't stand out much and it's small, so you have to look for it — walk straight ahead without looking around and you might just miss it. In the evening the outdoor lighting comes on and the glow inside makes it much easier to spot. I really love a small place that doesn't try too hard to show off haha.

The space itself is small. There are two 4-person tables and one 2-person table. When four or more people come, they'll often add an extra chair or push a neighboring table together. When we visited, every table besides our 2-person one was already reserved. Last time I came, there were quite a few reservations too — it seems more and more people are booking ahead these days. If you're coming with three or more people especially, I'd recommend calling ahead to check for a table and reserve.

If there's no seat available, taking it to go and eating by the Han River is a pretty solid backup plan too.

Macho Nacho menu and prices

• Macho Nacho ₩8,900 — nachos + house-made salsa + 3 sauces (dipping cheese, sour cream, tomato sauce)
• Signature Nacho ₩13,900 — Macho Nacho + cheese + bacon
• Cilantro Nacho ₩13,900 — Macho Nacho + cilantro + guacamole
• Beef Brisket Nacho ₩13,900 — Macho Nacho + cheese + beef brisket
• Ground Meat Nacho ₩14,400 — Macho Nacho + cheese + seasoned ground meat
• Pepperoni Pizza Nacho ₩15,900 — Macho Nacho + double cheese + pepperoni

It works by adding toppings onto the basic Macho Nacho. You don't even have to pick one of the menu items above — you can just add whichever toppings you actually want to the basic nacho. For example, if you love guacamole but hate cilantro, order Macho Nacho with just guacamole (₩3,000) added — that's exactly what I do. And a nice touch: building your own combo doesn't cost more than the listed menu prices, it stays the same.

They have wine too haha. And most people only look at the first page of the menu and assume it's just a nacho place, but the back page has drinking snacks and Japanese-style dishes too!! The comments written next to each item are pretty funny too — the menu makes you start guessing the owner's personality and MBTI type.

The basic Macho Nacho plate with ₩4,000 draft beer

That day I wanted the most basic option, so I ordered the plain Macho Nacho. A cold draft beer each too :) Draft beer for ₩4,000 — four thousand won!! These days it's hard to find draft beer at ₩4,000 anywhere.

The trio of tomato salsa, cheese sauce, and sour cream looks so pretty and pairs so well together.

How to eat the nachos: crush them with a spoon

Haha, nachos completely crushed with a spoon. At this place, don't just pick the nachos up with your hands — crush them all with a spoon together with the sauce and scoop them up, that's when they taste the best. It might look a little messy, but that's when the flavor really shines. If you've never tried eating them crushed like this, give it a go!!

Under ₩20,000 for two: is Macho Nacho good value in Mangwon?

Nachos plus one beer each comes to under ₩20,000 — a rare, great-value beer spot in Mangwon. The owner is gentle too, and it's a good place to have a light drink near the Han River in Mangwon! Honestly one of my favorite neighborhood bars. If you're visiting Mangwon-dong, I'd recommend stopping by at least once.